Cumbria’s Marathon Man Gary McKee is set to reach the halfway point of his latest fundraising challenge on Saturday.
The Cleator Moor runner began his ambitious 100toLDN challenge in January, running a marathon every day for 100 consecutive days, all in support of Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
The challenge will culminate at the London Marathon on April 26, where Gary will cross the finish line alongside his 18-year-old son, Beau.
He will hit 50 marathons on Saturday.
The goal is to raise £100,000 for the charity. Gary has already raised over £27,000 thanks to the continued support of communities across West Cumbria and beyond.
Gary has been running daily in and around Cleator Moor but has also taken the challenge on the road, joining local groups and events to help spread awareness and encourage people to get involved.
In recent weeks, he has run with supporters at Muncaster Castle and Workington parkrun, while also visiting schools and community groups.
Alongside him throughout the challenge has been Beau, who has been running with his dad every day during training and on sections of the daily marathons.
Gary said: “Reaching 50 marathons is a big milestone, but there’s still plenty of road ahead.
“The support over the past few weeks has been incredible, and it really keeps you going on the tougher days.
“Getting out into the community, running with schools, Parkruns, and local groups has been one of the best parts of the challenge so far. Hospice at Home West Cumbria means a lot to me, and so many families in our area; that’s what keeps me focused.
“If we can keep the momentum going and get closer to that £100,000 target, it will make a real difference to the care they provide.”
Support for the challenge has continued to grow, with messages of encouragement from stars like TV’s Helen Skelton and Ryan Thomas.
Over the coming weeks, Gary will continue running daily marathons across West Cumbria as he builds towards the final run at the London Marathon, where he and Beau will complete the final 26.2 miles together.
Julie Monk, chief executive of Hospice at Home West Cumbria, said: “We are incredibly inspired by this remarkable milestone.
“Gary, reaching his 50th marathon, halfway to his ambitious goal of 100, is a testament to his dedication, resilience, and generosity.
“Every mile he runs helps us provide vital care and support to families across West Cumbria during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. His commitment embodies the very spirit of our charity, and we are honoured to have him as Vice-President and championing our cause.”
Hospice at Home West Cumbria provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people across the region, supporting patients and families when they need it most.
To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/gary-mckee-100ldn
